The crosswinds of freedom

the long version

Beginning with Franklin Roosevelt's taking office in March of 1933, the author chronicles the most extraordinary period in American history--a time of depression, war, social and cultural upheaval, and incredible economic prosperity.He offers shrewd portraits of the nine presidents who seved over the 56 years. The final volume of Burns's classic history of the American Experiment, from the election of FDR to the final days of the Cold War "Crosswinds of Freedom" is an articulate and incisive examination of the United States during its rise to become the world's sole superpower. Here is a young democracy transformed by the Great Depression, the Second World War, the Cold War, the rapid pace of technological change, and the distinct visions of nine presidents. Spanning fifty-six years and touching on many corners of the nation's complex cultural tapestry, Burns's work is a remarkable look at the forces that gave rise to the "American Century."